Not sure who decides what is out of class and what isn't but a .243 works just fine for black bears...I've killed several when they were eating our peanuts...The reason??? It's what I had in the truck when I spotted them...
I don't consider the .243 a light caliber, it's worked well for me on whitetalis for over 30 years...
The trick to clean kills is putting the bullet where it's suppose to be put...
The only complaints I hear on a .243 is from those who haven't killed a few dozen deer with them so they don't know what it is capable of...
I'm not recoil shy, I'm the guy others bring their guns to when they won't shoot straight...The guys that are recoil shy are the ones shooting guns too big for the class game they are shooting...
